New tires

[Davdeb1]

Michelin's are very overrated! There are numerous threads on this site documenting problems. Google the tire brand, weigh the pros and cons. If pros outweigh cons do it!
Toyo tires were always suspect because they were unknown, now everyone wants them.

[Fred Cooper]

Originally Posted by fdman

I have to replace the six Mich tires on my coachman Pathfinder. The size is 255/80R 22.5. My tire dealer says I can use a slightly different size in a Sumatomo brand ( I hope I got that right) without worrying about heat or rubbing on my tandem wheels. Cost of Mich is 4,450.00 and the cost of the Sumo is 2,275.00 I would like to save that money, but safety first. Any ideas?

In August 2009 I did just what you are asking about.
I replaced my xrv 255x80x22.5 with Sumitomo 727 tires in the 275/70R22.5 size. All the specs fit my rims and dual spacing. Tire is slightly wider. The new tires make 549 revs/mile where the old tires made 541 revs/mile, so the speedometer error is so small that I can't detect a difference.

The Sumitomo is a good tire.

Fred

[brucemcmahon]

I just replaced the front tires on our '93 Pace Arrow. They were Samsons and lasted 6 years and 35,000 miles. The tire shop ( the best one in Sacramento) checked the rears, also Samsons, and said based on current condition should last another two years. We do store indoors.

[TexasTom]

Sumitomo tires are popular for delivery trucks, etc. according to a friend who uses them on his fleet. I asked because I have them. He says dependable & tough.

[Smitty77]

On a few other forums, one for HiFi and the other for tech in general, some of the upper end manufactures get bashed quite regularly. For example on HiFi, both Meridian and Audio Research were popular to bash. On the tech forum, Apple is always 'just about to collapse'...

Here? Michelin sure gets bashed...

Don't want to buy Michelin? Fine, don't. Want to give your experience with a bad specific Michelin tire? Yes, as all manufactures will have a problem from time to time on a specific model or item. And that is constructive help to all RV'ers. But Michelin has a long history of providing tires for both the auto, RV and Trucking industries. And they are at a higher price point then many of their competitors.

It's sort of like say Foretravel's are all bad. Why, because they cost so much, and heck, they had some problems with a few models over the years. By gosh, anyone buying those higher priced Foretravels should have their heads examined. They could get a much less expensive Bounder, Georgetown, (Fill in the band and model that you feel is better, at of course much lower cost here...).

For sure their are choices that can be made on tires, as with all products. Different price points, and different levels of quality.

Do go buy what you want. And if that means Michelin are 'too expensive' for what you feel is not enough of a 'payback' in usage - that's OK. But don't keep beating the horse that anyone that would want to buy Michelin, is in need of a straightjacket...

Michelin owes me nothing, as I feel I've had good service out of them on our RV these last 5-6 years. And, I also felt I had a safety advantage by driving on the specific tire model I had chosen, due to a very robustly built tire.

But I'm not 'locked into' Michelin as the only tire I will consider. I do my best to shop the combination of price in relationship to my understanding of quality of return in value.

I have Yokohama tires on a few of our passenger cars. And have also had good luck with early Bridgestone tires on a few of the cars too. Michelin's were also a good choice, but due to a few reasons, I did not purchase them the last few sets of tires. Tomorrow? Sure, it could be Michelin. Or, Bridgestone, or Yokohama, or Continental's.... I'll do my research when I'm ready to buy, make a decision, and spend my money where and how I ant to.

And yes, I can bet that someone will be sizing me up for a straightjacket, regardless of what tire brand I choose that at that time...

Got to go now, my Meridian system needs to be turned off. And I want to go read the advance info on the I7 and Apple's push into virtual reality...

Happy New Years to you all. Travel safe, have fun, and do your own research and make your own decisions about any product you want to buy. And then don't let the straightjacket gang get to you!
Smitty

[Redapple]

Another thing to keep in mind is tire dealers will peddle what THEY want to. Don't let dealers sway you when you have done your research. I bought 6 Firestone FS560'S for $1850 out the door this past July. Very happy with them. Many alternatives to Goodyear and Michelin that in my opinion are just as good and not selling on their name.

[jamador1010]

I too have replaced my Michelin with Samson' from Chicago tire; truthfully, I wasn't expecting much as I know in two years I will upgrade this coach. However, much to my surprise upon static balancing all tires, all but two took 2oz and one took no weight and the other needed 16oz. Upon further examination, my rim was bent, mounted tire on new rim and this resolved issue. I have since put 6000 miles on coach and no issues. So, for $1300. delivered to my door, in addition to my labor time, overall I am pleased and so will the new owner when they see all the 2015 casing age. Last note; I wouldn't take any GY tire for free, riveting, etc, etc! and Michelins are a great, great tire, but in my case we just run the coach seasonally and the less you run a Michelin the harder things become with sidewall cracking... A lot of monies for minimum use...

[Ziggy319]

I win a small trucking company. Have used all spoken about. I will 99% of the time put Michelin on the steer axel and the rest usually a good quality based on price. I have had many tires go bad and we are very pro active. However knock on wood only 1 steer tire and it was a factory original Bridgestone. Never a Michelin. Double coin is a high quality low cost in my opinion. Toyos were about 20% more money and held up best.

[eddie g]

Originally Posted by Fred Cooper

In August 2009 I did just what you are asking about.
I replaced my xrv 255x80x22.5 with Sumitomo 727 tires in the 275/70R22.5 size. All the specs fit my rims and dual spacing. Tire is slightly wider. The new tires make 549 revs/mile where the old tires made 541 revs/mile, so the speedometer error is so small that I can't detect a difference.

The Sumitomo is a good tire.

Fred

+1 same here

[docsdock]

I went with the samsons about 6 months ago - been traveling all around the south and love them.used the savings for fuel and beer Nice

[George Schweikle]

Thanks for a well written post

Originally Posted by Smitty77

On a few other forums, one for HiFi and the other for tech in general, some of the upper end manufactures get bashed quite regularly. For example on HiFi, both Meridian and Audio Research were popular to bash. On the tech forum, Apple is always 'just about to collapse'...

Here? Michelin sure gets bashed...

Don't want to buy Michelin? Fine, don't. Want to give your experience with a bad specific Michelin tire? Yes, as all manufactures will have a problem from time to time on a specific model or item. And that is constructive help to all RV'ers. But Michelin has a long history of providing tires for both the auto, RV and Trucking industries. And they are at a higher price point then many of their competitors.

It's sort of like say Foretravel's are all bad. Why, because they cost so much, and heck, they had some problems with a few models over the years. By gosh, anyone buying those higher priced Foretravels should have their heads examined. They could get a much less expensive Bounder, Georgetown, (Fill in the band and model that you feel is better, at of course much lower cost here...).

For sure their are choices that can be made on tires, as with all products. Different price points, and different levels of quality.

Do go buy what you want. And if that means Michelin are 'too expensive' for what you feel is not enough of a 'payback' in usage - that's OK. But don't keep beating the horse that anyone that would want to buy Michelin, is in need of a straightjacket...

Michelin owes me nothing, as I feel I've had good service out of them on our RV these last 5-6 years. And, I also felt I had a safety advantage by driving on the specific tire model I had chosen, due to a very robustly built tire.

But I'm not 'locked into' Michelin as the only tire I will consider. I do my best to shop the combination of price in relationship to my understanding of quality of return in value.

I have Yokohama tires on a few of our passenger cars. And have also had good luck with early Bridgestone tires on a few of the cars too. Michelin's were also a good choice, but due to a few reasons, I did not purchase them the last few sets of tires. Tomorrow? Sure, it could be Michelin. Or, Bridgestone, or Yokohama, or Continental's.... I'll do my research when I'm ready to buy, make a decision, and spend my money where and how I ant to.

And yes, I can bet that someone will be sizing me up for a straightjacket, regardless of what tire brand I choose that at that time...

Got to go now, my Meridian system needs to be turned off. And I want to go read the advance info on the I7 and Apple's push into virtual reality...

Happy New Years to you all. Travel safe, have fun, and do your own research and make your own decisions about any product you want to buy. And then don't let the straightjacket gang get to you!
Smitty

[Ray,IN]

A new brand to the U.S. HDT tire industry is Sailun. They are a quality tire, heavier than most other brands, but with a good reputation for quality and longivity. I will put 6 on my MH for $ 2,200 installed when the time arrives.

[Terry L T]

SAMPSON TIRES, When buying a used motorhome with 20,000 rear axel weight and 12,800 front axel weight, the dealer put new Sampson tires on size 275/70/22.5. The tire load range was not enough to handle the load. The dealer had them removed and put Hercules H902 on it. CHECK THE LOAD RATING. Also the speed rating was only 68 MPH

[cwit]

I put 6 Sailun on our camper 2 years ago. For the price one good tire.